By HDN Staff
Jerome "Jerry" Pyette, 82, former Chinook resident, died Friday, May 25, 2001 at a Havre hospital of natural causes.
Visitation was Saturday and Sunday at Holland and Bonine Funeral Home, and prayer vigil was Monday evening at St. Jude Catholic Church. Funeral Mass was 10 a.m. today at St. Jude Catholic Church with Fr. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial was to follow at the Highland Cemetery.
Pyette was born Oct. 21, 1918 to
Peter and Clara (McDonald) Pyette at Chinook. He attended Chinook High School.
He married Bernice A. Heeter in 1940 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Havre.
Pyette worked for the Great Northern Railroad until entering the U.S. Naval Service June 7, 1944. He was assigned to the USS New Mexico. He was honorably discharged Oct. 23, 1945. He returned to Chinook and went to work for the Utah Idaho Sugar Company (U&I), which later became Great Western Sugar Company (GW). He retired in 1980 and moved to Havre.
Pyette was a member and past commander of the VFW Post and a past member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
He enjoyed woodworking and making ceramic and porcelain objects. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, camping, playing cards and playing pool. He also enjoyed family gatherings and watching his children and grandchildren in their sporting activities.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Clara Pyette; son, Lee Pyette, in 1983; brother, Pete Pyette; sisters, Mary Frances Johnson and Sybil Bosch.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice Pyette of Havre; sons, Jerry Pyette and Patrick Pyette of Chinook and Michael Pyette of Cut Bank; daughters, Lynnette Friede of Chinook and Margaret Mellett of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; brother, Willie Pyette of Chinook; 16 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Gift of Life Family Housing Center, Benefis Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406-7008.
Services and arrangements were under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
